Food Science and Nutrition Newsletter, Summer 2024

FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD

It’s been an exciting and innovative year for the Food Science and Nutrition Department. We moved several of our faculty in the Boswell Agricultural Technology Center within the William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation, a $125 million complex that serves as a hub for students, faculty and industry to gather and share knowledge to drive the food industry forward. Access to the new laboratories in the Boswell Agricultural Technology Center opened new opportunities for the department, both in terms of teaching capacity and in furthering interdisciplinary collaborations within Cal Poly and with industry partners.  We are extremely thankful for this amazing opportunity. If you have not seen our new laboratories yet, please stop by or watch this video featuring Professor Samir Amin.

This year, we welcomed several new additions to our department – Assistant Professor Shannon McClorry and Professor Susan Hawk in the nutrition program and Assistant Professor Milena Ramirez Rodrigues in the food science program. Additionally, we have also welcomed a new administrative staff member, Brie Teh and a new instructional support technician Kelsey Stumpf. They are all great additions to our Food Science and Nutrition community and have already significantly impacted our students and programs.

It has been a pleasure and honor serving as department head for the past five years, but I am excited to announce that I am starting a new professional journey this August and will be heading to France, in Aix-en-Provence, to serve as the California State University International Program Resident Director for the French programs in Aix-en-Provence and Paris. Associate Professor Kari Pilolla, current associate department head, will take over as interim department head.

As we said goodbye to another graduating class in June, I want to wish all our graduates the best of luck for their new journey and wish you all a wonderful summer filled with excitement and adventures. I am extremely grateful for the continued success of our department and look forward to seeing what the future holds.

Warm regards,

DR. STEPHANIE JUNG
Department Head

Food Science & Nutrition